Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > June > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMartin best pick to face Chambliss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
from today’s editorial….
Five candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and the right to challenge Saxby Chambliss, the Republican incumbent, in the fall. But only one - former state Rep. Jim Martin — has the experience, the character and the intellect demanded for the role.
Rand Knight, an environmental engineer and software salesman, has the intellect and character but has never held or sought public office. A seat in the U.S. Senate would be too big a step, too soon. Dale Cardwell, a former TV reporter, touts himself as an alternative to “business as usual” but has done nothing to establish himself as more than a protest candidate. Camping out on a tower in the dead of winter may draw publicity, but it is not the act of a potential U.S. senator. Josh Lanier, a retired businessman and consultant, is not running an aggressive campaign.
The remaining candidate, DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones, is a special case. He is a man of large talents and large flaws, but those flaws of temperament, character and judgment are so large as to disqualify him from consideration for higher office.
During his controversial tenure as county executive, Jones has twice been accused of physical confrontations with women, with one case ending only after Jones wrote two apologies to a fellow county official “for the language I used and/or for my conduct toward you, which I now realize was inappropriate and which I now acknowledge has no place in the conduct of our personal and professional affairs.”
In a third case, Jones was accused of rape. His defense — that sexual acts between himself and two women had been consensual, not forced — does not engender confidence in a senatorial candidate. (The charge was later dropped at the request of the alleged victim, who continued to stick by her version of events.)
Voters in a Democratic primary might also question the wisdom of nominating a man who has acknowledged voting for President Bush in 2000 and again in 2004. Having Jones at the top of the Democratic ticket statewide would not just harm the hopes of candidates for lesser office, it would taint the Georgia campaign of presidential nominee Barack Obama as well.
Fortunately, Martin offers an attractive alternative. A Vietnam veteran, he has earned deep bipartisan respect through his service in the state Legislature and as commissioner of the state Department of Human Resources under Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat, and Gov. Sonny Perdue, a Republican.
Martin also stresses the importance of being an independent voice for Georgia in the Senate regardless of who is elected president, drawing a contrast to the blind allegiance he claims Chambliss has given to Bush. His nomination would bring credit both to his party and to his state.
Comments
By NRB
June 19, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Jay, if you want to live in a liberal state why don’t you just move to Massachusetts where you belong. Democrats have long since ruined New England with their pro-criminal, high tax, anti-American policies…so rest assured you would feel right at home.
No need to ruin Georgia by electing worthless Demo-Rats.
By Copyleft
June 19, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
When enough Republican officials do enough damage, Georgia will eventually start voting smarter and turn blue.
We can only hope there will still be something left of Georgia worth salvaging by then.
By JAY BOOKMAN
June 19, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
To NRB:
I live in Georgia because I like it here. But I do take issue with your claim that those stupid liberals have “ruined New England with their pro-criminal, high-tax, anti-American policies.”
Let’s look at some numbers, shall we? Per capita income: Georgia, $32.095; Mass., $46,299.
Murder rate: Georgia, 6.4 per 100,000 residents; “pro-criminal” Mass., 2.9.
High school graduation rate: Georgia, 54 percent; Mass., 75 percent.
Annual divorce rate: Georgia 2.5 percent; Mass., 2.5 percent.
If it’s ruination to be better educated with considerably higher incomes and considerably lower rates of violent crime, then I suggest Georgia could use some more “ruination.”
By DOT
June 19, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
A Democrat in GA has about the same chance of defeating Chambliss as a Republican in CA would have of defeating Boxer or Feinstein.
By ByteMan
June 19, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
@Copyleft: If they keep cutting money for education, there’s no way the average Georgian will get smarter. Only the rich who can afford private schools will get smarter… and they will vote Republican to maintain their wealth and be able to pass it to their spawn in a world with no estate taxes… thereby creating a permanent aristocracy, which is one of the unstated long-term economic/social goals of the Republican Party.
Blood in the water! Little piranha, where are you?? Heh heh.
By GOPs got to go
June 19, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
I will check out the above candidates Jay, thanks for the intro to them.
I agree, something about Jones has always smelled bad to me.
Knight being an Environmental Engineer sounds good. I think new ideas and new blood is soundly needed in Congress. At least he will probably agree that Global Warming is not a hoax.
I take some offense about the education comment. I have raised 2 children in public education in Ga. schools who have done exceptionally well for anyone’s standards. I still consider Zell Miller a great Governor if for nothing else than bringing in HOPE scholarship money. One child went to TECH for free and another is going to TECH for free now. My friends out of state can not believe that sweet deal.
By Copyleft
June 19, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
DOT, you might want to use a different example. California voters recently recalled a Democratic governor and voted in a Republican.
Change, and the desire for it, CAN maake a difference.
By demwit
June 19, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
“the experience, the character and the intellect demanded for the role.”
Oh……, you mean like Obama!?
By demwit
June 19, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
Did Jay just leave out a really, really big number up there? A number proven, again and again, to be directly related to all those others numbers he’s using up there!?
Ma population: White 87.89% Black 7.58% Ga population: White 67.00% Black 30.29%
By TopCat
June 19, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
If one will note this small observance:Our economic forecast is bright here in Georgia. Most of the bright and ambitious people from so called “blue” states are moving here and assimilating into our network (one generation of yankeness’and their children are speaking Southern)No one looks forward to a long term transfer into a blue state…..Well maybe a government sponge….Yall’ have a nice day now, ya here…Red White and Blue with Sonny Perdue….
By rightytighty
June 19, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
I think Jay is the perfect example TopCat.
Another educated Yankee that moved to the south to watch in horror as his children become immersed in our traditions and, yes I dare to say, become Republicans. In fact, Jay’s slide to the right on offshore drillings “case by case basis’”, seems to hint at his political shiftiness as well. We do have a way with “ruining” progressives..
By Hillbilly Deluxe
June 19, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bookman, I have to take issue with you on Dale Cardwell’s sitting atop a pole in the dead of winter. I think this is something all 100 US Senators should do. If they are atop a pole somewhere, they can’t do us any harm. Who knows if it proves successful perhaps they could consider sitting atop a pole year round! (Pointed poles might be an even better idea.)
By Abomi Nation
June 19, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
From today’s ajc.com….“The drought is reintensifying, with a hot and dry early July on the way…”
Yep, Lake Lanier water levels are dropping too. Thank God the Southern speaking youngsters here in Georgia will be able to “pray for rain” without one of them Yankee accents.
By Bud Wiser
June 19, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
So Jay, now you have resorted to simply not publishing anyone’s blog that disagrees with your point? I went to a lot of trouble researching my stats, and your response is not only to ignore them, but withhold them from a supposedly free opinion site?
That, more than anything else, points out the morally flawed position of leftists like you. If you disagree with someone, even though that person may be correct, either ignore or try to out-scream them. That is the way of the left.
You disgust me.
By Slick
June 19, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
Jay,
Are you sure Vernon Jones is not a Republican? His rap sheet certainly sounds like he might be one…
By JAY BOOKMAN
June 19, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
Bud, I have no idea what you’re talking about. We have no record of any submission from your IP number since about this time yesterday, responding to the abortion item. Send me an email at jbookman@ajc.com and tell me more.
By Lynette
June 19, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
Why does the AJC repeatedly insult the intelligence of African-Americans? Folks don’t be blind to this blatant racism portrayed by the AJC and it’s writers such as Mr. Bookman. Vernon Jones is a threat to the “good ole boys” so rather than talk about the accomplishments he achieved for DeKalb County, you’d rather make personal attacks. What is Jim Martin really known for? Besides losing the Lt. Governor’s seat—boy that’s one strong candidate. Perhaps Mr. Jones voted for Bush because he was tired of the poor choices (ie losers) the Democratic Party continued to pick to represent us. Jim Martin doesn’t bring any more credit to our party or our state than Dale Cardwell did by climbing a tower—idiot. His only credibility is the fact that he’s White and the so called “stronger” pick of the White candidates. I guess if Martin hadn’t stepped into the race, you would have endorsed the software salesman. It’s a sad day in Georgia when people still have this ignorant mentality in the year 2008. An African-American can represent our state (and our country) just as well as a White person. What are you afraid of? Free your minds people! Vernon Jones for U.S. Senate!
By susan
June 23, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
So Martin sounds good.
Thanks. I’ll take that into ocnsideration.
By steve
July 17, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
I am a Martin supporter. I am a veteran and I want someone to speak for us in Washington. Chambliss and Isakson vote to keep the war in Iraq and Afghanistan going. Don’t get me wrong I beleive in a strong military but I also beleive in taking care of the ones who come home disbled for life. I believe Jim Martin will be a good change if elected.